Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Ep 24: The Tree That Let Something Fall
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Ep 24: The Tree That Let Something Fall
šæ The Tree That Let Something Fall
A Hollow Tree myth for the ones who notice when something changesā¦ before anyone says it out loud.
Have you ever noticedā¦
how some things fall awaybefore anything new appears?
Welcome to The Hollow Tree
This is a story for the children who feel when something is shiftingāeven if no one else has named it yet.
For the ones who notice when the air changes,when the light feels different,when something familiar grows just a little quieter.
Letās begin.
š Forest Friend Whisper
[Chime]
āThere are trees that bloom loudlyāpetals and color and sweet-smelling air.
And there are trees that bloom softlyāso softly that most people miss it.
But the quiet bloomersā¦
are often the ones that feed the forest first.ā
[Chime]
š² The Tree That Let Something Fall
A Hollow Tree myth for the ones who notice when something changesā¦ before anyone says it out loud.
And now, the tale.
Not far from the Hollow Tree,just beyond where the moss grows thickestand the light turns a softer kind of gold,
there stands a tree most people forget to look at.
It does not grow tall in a hurry.It does not spread wide like the others.
It leans.
Just slightly.
As if it has learnedthat not everything needs to reach for the skyto belong.
For most of the year,it looks like any other quiet tree.
Branches.Bark.Nothing to remark on.
But onceājust once each yearā
something happens.
Before the leaves return,before the forest feels fully awakeā¦
the tree begins to soften.
Small, pale shapes appear along its branches.
Not leaves.
Not flowers.
Something in-between.
Soft as breath.Light as thought.Easy to miss if youāre not looking closely.
And thenā¦
they transform.
stamens and nectar appear from the softness.
then,
after it seems theyāve only just arrived,
they fall.
Not all at once.
Not dramatically.
Justā¦ one by one.
Drifting down onto the moss.
Settling into the quiet places.
Most people never notice.
They walk past and say,
āThis tree hasnāt bloomed yet.ā
But the forest knows better.
Because while those soft almost blossoms fallā¦
something else is happening.
Something quieter.
A child named Soren noticed.
He had come to the forest that daybecause something felt different.
He couldnāt say what.
Nothing was wrong.
Nothing had changed in any obvious way.
And stillā
something had shifted.
So he walked.
Not looking for anything in particular.
Justā¦ listening with his feet.
Thatās when he saw the tree.
At first, he thought nothing of it.
Until something brushed his sleeve.
He looked down.
A small, pale tuft rested against his arm.
He picked it up.
It was softer than it should be.
Warmer than the air around it.
And just for a momentā
it felt like holding somethingthat had already finished what it came to do.
Soren looked up.
More of them were falling.
Not quickly.
Not heavily.
Justā¦ steadily.
āAre you losing something?ā he asked the tree.
The tree did not answer.
But the wind shifted gently through its branches.
And another soft blossom let go.
Soren watched it fall.
It didnāt look like something being lost.
It looked like something beingā¦ released.
He sat down on the moss.
For a while, he didnāt think.
Didnāt wonder.
Didnāt try to understand.
He just watched.
And slowlyā
the feeling he had carried into the forest began to change.
Not disappear.
Not resolve.
Justā¦ settle.
Like whatever had been shiftingdidnāt need to be solved.
Only noticed.
After a while, the tree grew still again.
No more blossoms fell.
Its branches looked almost bare.
Quiet.
Waiting.
Soren stood.
āNow you look empty,ā he said.
The wind moved once moreā
not through the branches this time,
but around him.
And though the tree said nothingā¦
Soren understood something anyway.
Not in words.
But in the way his shoulders felt lighter.
In the way the forest didnāt seem so uncertain anymore.
Emptywas not the right word.
Something had ended.
Yes.
But not in a way that meant nothing was coming next.
Soren brushed the soft blossoms from his sleeve.
He didnāt take one with him.
It didnāt feel like something meant to be kept.
Only something meant to be seen.
As he walked back toward the Hollow Tree,
the forest felt the same as it had before.
And alsoā¦
not the same at all.
Behind him, the quiet tree stood still.
Its branches bare for now.
But deep insideā
where no one could seeā
something newhad already begun.
š²
If something feels like itās changingā¦
before you know what comes nextā
you might just be standingin a moment like this.
Where something smallhas finishedā¦
so something elsecan begin.
To the listeners.To the whisper-hearers.To the ones who notice before they understand:
We see you.We thank you.We will keep writing.
Thank you for listening to The Hollow Tree.
The forest is still here.
Justā¦ growing quietly for a little while.
Before we go todayā¦
thereās something small I want to share with you.
The Hollow Tree isnāt going quiet.
And it isnāt going anywhere.
But just like the forest doesā
we are shifting.
The stories are softening for a little while.
Stretching their roots.
Taking a slow breath between seasons.
That doesnāt mean the magic has stopped.
It just means itās changing shape.
So if things feel a little quieter here for a bitā¦
thatās on purpose.
Thatās part of the story too.
And when the next stories arriveā
theyāll be ready.
And so will we.
Until thenā¦
youāre always welcome here.
ššÆļø
āWritten and performed by Amber Jensen and the voices of The Hollow Tree
If this story stirred something in youā¦You can keep The Hollow Tree lit by subscribing, sharing it with someone who listens like you do, or leaving a kind note.
Everything here is offered with care.And every listen, every share, every whisper down the lineāit matters. š²
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thehollowtree.substack.com
View all episodes
By Amber Jensenšæ The Tree That Let Something Fall
A Hollow Tree myth for the ones who notice when something changesā¦ before anyone says it out loud.
Have you ever noticedā¦
how some things fall awaybefore anything new appears?
Welcome to The Hollow Tree
This is a story for the children who feel when something is shiftingāeven if no one else has named it yet.
For the ones who notice when the air changes,when the light feels different,when something familiar grows just a little quieter.
Letās begin.
š Forest Friend Whisper
[Chime]
āThere are trees that bloom loudlyāpetals and color and sweet-smelling air.
And there are trees that bloom softlyāso softly that most people miss it.
But the quiet bloomersā¦
are often the ones that feed the forest first.ā
[Chime]
š² The Tree That Let Something Fall
A Hollow Tree myth for the ones who notice when something changesā¦ before anyone says it out loud.
And now, the tale.
Not far from the Hollow Tree,just beyond where the moss grows thickestand the light turns a softer kind of gold,
there stands a tree most people forget to look at.
It does not grow tall in a hurry.It does not spread wide like the others.
It leans.
Just slightly.
As if it has learnedthat not everything needs to reach for the skyto belong.
For most of the year,it looks like any other quiet tree.
Branches.Bark.Nothing to remark on.
But onceājust once each yearā
something happens.
Before the leaves return,before the forest feels fully awakeā¦
the tree begins to soften.
Small, pale shapes appear along its branches.
Not leaves.
Not flowers.
Something in-between.
Soft as breath.Light as thought.Easy to miss if youāre not looking closely.
And thenā¦
they transform.
stamens and nectar appear from the softness.
then,
after it seems theyāve only just arrived,
they fall.
Not all at once.
Not dramatically.
Justā¦ one by one.
Drifting down onto the moss.
Settling into the quiet places.
Most people never notice.
They walk past and say,
āThis tree hasnāt bloomed yet.ā
But the forest knows better.
Because while those soft almost blossoms fallā¦
something else is happening.
Something quieter.
A child named Soren noticed.
He had come to the forest that daybecause something felt different.
He couldnāt say what.
Nothing was wrong.
Nothing had changed in any obvious way.
And stillā
something had shifted.
So he walked.
Not looking for anything in particular.
Justā¦ listening with his feet.
Thatās when he saw the tree.
At first, he thought nothing of it.
Until something brushed his sleeve.
He looked down.
A small, pale tuft rested against his arm.
He picked it up.
It was softer than it should be.
Warmer than the air around it.
And just for a momentā
it felt like holding somethingthat had already finished what it came to do.
Soren looked up.
More of them were falling.
Not quickly.
Not heavily.
Justā¦ steadily.
āAre you losing something?ā he asked the tree.
The tree did not answer.
But the wind shifted gently through its branches.
And another soft blossom let go.
Soren watched it fall.
It didnāt look like something being lost.
It looked like something beingā¦ released.
He sat down on the moss.
For a while, he didnāt think.
Didnāt wonder.
Didnāt try to understand.
He just watched.
And slowlyā
the feeling he had carried into the forest began to change.
Not disappear.
Not resolve.
Justā¦ settle.
Like whatever had been shiftingdidnāt need to be solved.
Only noticed.
After a while, the tree grew still again.
No more blossoms fell.
Its branches looked almost bare.
Quiet.
Waiting.
Soren stood.
āNow you look empty,ā he said.
The wind moved once moreā
not through the branches this time,
but around him.
And though the tree said nothingā¦
Soren understood something anyway.
Not in words.
But in the way his shoulders felt lighter.
In the way the forest didnāt seem so uncertain anymore.
Emptywas not the right word.
Something had ended.
Yes.
But not in a way that meant nothing was coming next.
Soren brushed the soft blossoms from his sleeve.
He didnāt take one with him.
It didnāt feel like something meant to be kept.
Only something meant to be seen.
As he walked back toward the Hollow Tree,
the forest felt the same as it had before.
And alsoā¦
not the same at all.
Behind him, the quiet tree stood still.
Its branches bare for now.
But deep insideā
where no one could seeā
something newhad already begun.
š²
If something feels like itās changingā¦
before you know what comes nextā
you might just be standingin a moment like this.
Where something smallhas finishedā¦
so something elsecan begin.
To the listeners.To the whisper-hearers.To the ones who notice before they understand:
We see you.We thank you.We will keep writing.
Thank you for listening to The Hollow Tree.
The forest is still here.
Justā¦ growing quietly for a little while.
Before we go todayā¦
thereās something small I want to share with you.
The Hollow Tree isnāt going quiet.
And it isnāt going anywhere.
But just like the forest doesā
we are shifting.
The stories are softening for a little while.
Stretching their roots.
Taking a slow breath between seasons.
That doesnāt mean the magic has stopped.
It just means itās changing shape.
So if things feel a little quieter here for a bitā¦
thatās on purpose.
Thatās part of the story too.
And when the next stories arriveā
theyāll be ready.
And so will we.
Until thenā¦
youāre always welcome here.
ššÆļø
āWritten and performed by Amber Jensen and the voices of The Hollow Tree
If this story stirred something in youā¦You can keep The Hollow Tree lit by subscribing, sharing it with someone who listens like you do, or leaving a kind note.
Everything here is offered with care.And every listen, every share, every whisper down the lineāit matters. š²
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thehollowtree.substack.com